Marshall County K9 Gets Bulletproof Vest

Marshall County Police K9 Arras models his bulletproof vest the county got through a grant program.

A valuable member of the Marshall County law enforcement community now has a bulletproof vest. K9 Arras was one of 350 police dogs selected by nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9’s Inc. They provide working dogs with appropriate safety equipment to protect them while they are working on the streets. Each vest bears a tag in memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department. He sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January.

Arras joined the Marshall County Police Department in September of 2012. Since then he’s been involved in nearly 200 criminal narcotics arrests as well as cash seizures. He’s a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois imported from Holland and certified through Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind. and the American Working Dog Association.

The vests cost $950 each and are warrantied for five years. Since 2009, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided body armor to 585 law enforcement dogs in 39 states. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are U.S. employed, certified and at least 19 months old. New K9 graduates and dogs with expired vests are eligible to participate. Find more information on line at www.vik9s.org.

WKVI News Director Mary Perren is glad to be back home in northern Indiana and on the radio. She’s a North Judson native with more than 20 years of news experience. She’s worked in print and radio news in Indianapolis, Hopkinsville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn. and most recently in Winamac before taking over as news director for Kankakee Valley Broadcasting in February of 2013. Her work has been honored by the Associated Press, StateNets News Association, Curb Foundation, Hoosier State Press Association and IBA. When she’s not sitting in the anchor chair or chasing down news, Mary enjoys shopping for antiques, attending concerts and taking long walks and rides in her vintage Saab convertible, weather permitting. She’s also a hopelessly devoted Chicago Cubs fanatic who still cringes at the mention of Steve Garvey and Josh Beckett and maintains it wasn’t Steve Bartman’s fault.